Container



April 26, 1966 F. w. LOCKE 3, 48,039

CONTAINER Filed July 21, 1964 INVENTOR 2:7 1 r FHA/VA l V. Lot/r5-ATTORNEY United States Patent Ofifice Patented Apr. 26, 1966 Thisinvention relates to an improvement in containers and deals particularlywith containers designed to be quickly scalable for assembly line useyet collapsible and stackable for inexpensive shipping and storing priorto use. n In assembling a regular slotted container to receive anarticle, it is the usual practice to form the container and apply-anadhesive to the outside of the bottom end flaps and the inside of thebottom side flaps. The bottom side flaps are then folded into facecontact with the bottom end flaps and are thereby secured.

Another method of preparing a regular slotted con- .tainer to receive anarticle is to fold the bottom end flaps inwardly and fold the bottomside flaps over the bottom end flaps into face contact. Tape may then beapplied to the bottom side flaps to secure the bottom closure assembly.

A third method is to preapply a water-activated glue to the outside ofthe bottom end flaps and the inside of the bottom side flaps. With thisconstruction, the preparation of a regular slotted container is much thesame as in .the first method above except that water rather than glue isapplied to the precoated surfaces.

A fourth method is the preapplication of a pressuresensitive adhesive,which adheres only to similar pressuresensitive adhesives, on theoutside of the bottom end flaps and the inside of the bottom side flaps.The container is then assembled and secured by folding the bottom endflaps inwardly and folding the bottom side flaps into face contact.

All of the above methods are costly and time-consum ing. It is theobject of my invention to eliminate many of the several steps necessaryin preparing a container for receiving an article and to eliminate manyof the steps necessary in manufacturing a container with quicklyscalable means for securing bottom and top closure assemblies.

A feature of my invention lies in the formation of a quickly scalablecontainer which may be collapsed without the preappliedpressure-sensitive adhesive coming in contact since there is noapplication of the pressure-sensitive adhesive on any of the insideflaps or panels. Size restrictions are not imposed on my container,since all coating is done on the outside of the flaps.

A further feature of my invention is that the container may be stackedwithout the preapplied pressure-sensitive adhesive coming into contact.

Another feature of my invention is thatthe pressuresensitive adhesivecan be applied to the outside of the end flaps during manufacture. Sinceit is not necessary to coat both the inside and outside closure flaps,the steps of assembling the container prior to the application of theadhesive and then disassembling and restacking the container subsequentto the application of the adhesive are eliminated. In the presentinvention, the container need not be formed. The adhesive is simplyapplied to the outside of the appropriate flaps at the appropriate pointin manufacture. The container blanks are then immediately stacked. Thereis no need to stack the container blanks, unstack them, and assemblethem prior to the application of the pressure-sensitive adhesive andthen disassemble the containers and restack them subsequent to theapplication of the pressure-sensitive adhesive.

These and other objects and novel features of my invention will be moreclearly and fully set forth in the following specifications and claims.

FIGURE 1 is a diagrammatic view of the outside surface of the blank fromwhich the container is formed, the shaded area being the surface uponwhich the pressuresensitive adhesive is preapplied.

FIGURE 2 is a diagrammatic view of the container shown in tubulararrangement before either the top or bottom flap assemblies are closed.The shaded area represents the surfaces upon which pressure-sensitiveadhesive is preapplied.

FIGURE 3 is a diagrammatic view of the container as viewed looking downon the top of the container through the partially open top flap assemblyto the inside of the closed bottom flap assembly.

FIGURE 4 is a cross-sectional view of the container in FIGURE 1, thesection view taken on the line'4 4 and showing the inside of the topflap assembly in, closed position.

FIGURE 5 is a diagrammatic view of the container in closed position.

The container shape may, of course, be varied between wide limits, thecontainer illustrated being a common size.

As illustrated in FIGURE 1, the container blank includes end wall panels10 and 12 and side wall panels 11 and 13. End Wall panel 10 is hingedlyconnected to side wall panel 11 along fold line 14; side wall panel 11is hingedly connected to end wall panel 12 along fold line 15, which isparallel to fold line 14; and end wall panel 12 is hingedly connected toside wall panel 13 along fold line 16, which is parallel to fold line14.

FIGURE 1 shows container wall closure tab 18 hingedly connected to endwall panel 10 along fold line 1 7, which is parallel to fold line 14.

FIGURE 1 also shows the top and bottom closure assemblies. End closureflaps 20 are hingedly connected to end wall panel 10 along fold lines24, which are perpendicular to fold line 14. Side closure flaps 21 arehingedly connected to side wall panel 11 along fold lines 25, which areextensions of fold lines 24. End closure flaps 22 are hingedly connectedto end wall panel 12 along fold lines .26, which are extensions of foldlines 25. Side closure flaps 23 are hingedly connected to side Wallpanel 13 along fold lines 27, which are extensions of fold lines 26.

FIGURE 1 also shows end closure flaps 20 hingedly connected to sideclosure flaps 21 along fold lines 14a, which are extensions of foldlines 14. Side closure flaps 21 are hingedly connected to end closureflaps 22 along fold lines 15a, which are extensions of fold line 15. Endclosure flaps 22 are hingedly connected to side closure flaps 23 alongfold lines 16a, which are extensions of fold line 16. Tabs 18a areextensions of container closure tab 18 hingedly connected thereto alongfold lines 24a, which are extensions of fold lines 24. Tabs 18a arehingedly connected to end closure flaps 20 along fold lines 1711 whichare extensions of fold line 17, which is parallel to fold line 14.

As shown by FIGURE 1, each end closure flap 20 includes two fold lines28 extending at angles of substantially 45 from the intersection of foldlines 24 and 18a, and 24 and 14a, respectively- The lines extendoutwardly to the edge of each end closure flap 20. Each end closure flap22 includes two fold lines 29 extending at angles of substantially 45from the intersection of fold lines 26 and 15a, and 26 and 15a,respectively. The lines extend outwardly to the edge of each end closureflap.-

J abutting relations when the container is closed; consequently, thefold lines need not intersect at the edge of the end closure flap. 7

The shaded areas in FIGURE 1 represent the only surfaces upon which apressure-sensitive adhesive is preapplied. The inner side of the endclosure flaps is not coated nor is the inner side of the side closureflaps.

As shown in FIGURE 2, the container is assembled in tubular form. Thetop and bottom closure assemblies are in open position and the surfaceson which the pressure-sensitive adhesive is preapplied are shown by theshaded area. Container closure tab 18 and tabs 18a are folded along foldlines 17 and 17a and connected to side wall panel 13 and side closureflaps 23. Any convenient means may be employed for this connection suchas taping, gluing, stitching, or stapling.

FIGURE 3 is a diagrammatic view looking down on the container throughthe partially closed top closure assembly viewing 'the inside of theclosed bottom :closure assembly. The shaded areas show the surfaces uponwhich the pressure-sensitive adhesive is applied. Opposed end flaps 20and 22 have been partially folded inwardly along fold lines 24 and 28and 26 and 29, respectively. The end flaps are hingedly connected to theside flaps thus inward movement of the end flaps draws the side flapsinto approximately edge-abutting relation thereby closing the container.

FIGURE 4 is a diagrammatic view of the inside of the bottom of thecontainer with the closure flaps in closed position. This section istaken along section lines 4-4 of FIGURE 5. The inside of end flaps 20and 22 may be seen in part. It should be noted that flaps 20 and 22 havereceived no preapplication of adhesive on the side facing the inside ofthe container. Also of note is that it is not necessary to preapply apressure-sensitive adhesive to the inside, or the outside, of side flaps21 and 23.

FIGURE 5 is a diagrammatic view of the container with the top and bottomclosure assemblies in closed position.

Several pressure-sensitive adhesives, which adhere only to themselves orsimilar items, are on the market, any of which would serve the purposefor my invention. It has been found that a pressure-sensitive adhesiveobtained from the American Latex Products Company, sold commercially asW-599, has given satisfactory results.

In accordance with the patent statutes, I have described the principlesof construction and operation of my container; and while I haveendeavored to set forth the best embodiment thereof, I desire to have itunderstood that obvious changes may be made within the scope of thefollowing claims without departing from the spirit of my invention.

I claim:

1. A collapsible, stackable container including:

(a) four wall panels hingedly connected in tubular relation including:

(1) two opposed side wall panels, and

(2) two opposed end wall panels, and

(b) an end closure assembly at each end of said four wall panelsincluding:

(1) two opposed side closure flaps hingedly connected to the end edgesof said opposed side wall panels,

(2) two opposed end closure flaps hingedly connected to the end edges ofsaid .end wall panels, and hingedly connected to the side edges of eachof said opposed side closure fiaps, each end closure flap having foldlines extending at angles of substantially 45 from the fold linehingedly connecting said end closure panel to said end wall panel, thefold lines extending from the intersection of the fold line hingedlyconnecting said end closure flap to said end wall panel and fold lineshingedly connecting said end closure flaps to said side closure flaps,the fold lines extending to the end edge of said end closure end closureflaps, the inside surfaces of said side.

and end closure flaps being free of pressure sensitive adhesive.

2. Acollapsible, stackable container including: (a) four wall panelshingedly connected in tubular relation including:

(b) en wall (1 two opposed side wall panels, and

) two opposed end wall panels,

end closure assembly at each end of said four panels including:

) two opposed side closure flaps hingedly connected to the end edges ofsaid opposed side wall panels,

) two opposed end closure flaps hingedly connected to theend edges ofsaid end wall panels, and hingedly connected to the side edges of eachof said opposed side closureflaps, each end closure flap having foldlines extending at angles of substantially 45 from the fold linehingedly connecting said end closure panel to said end wall panel, thefold lines extending from the intersection of the fold line hingedlyconnecting said end closure flap to said end wall panel and fold lineshingedly connecting said end closure flaps to said side closure flaps,the fold lines extending to the end edge of said end closure flap, and

) pressure-sensitive adhesive of a type capable of adhering only to asimilarly coated surface.

preapplied on the outside surface of each of said end closure flaps, theinside surfaces of said side and end closure flaps being free ofpressure sensitive adhesive, and

(c) a container closure tab hingedly connected to said end wall panelincluding an extension of said container closure tab hingedly connectedto said end clo- Sll re panel whereby the end wall panel and the endclosure flap may be hingedly connected to said side wall panel and saidside closure flap, respectively.

3. A collapsible, stackable container including: (a) four wall panelshingedly connected in tubular relation including:

) two opposed side wall panels, and two opposed end wall panels,

(b) an end closure assembly at each end of said four wall panelsincluding:

) two opposed side closure flaps hingedly connected to the end edges ofsaid opposed side wall panels,

(2) two opposed end closure flaps hingedly connected to the end edges ofsaid end wall panels, and hingedly connected to the side edges of eachof said opposed side closure flaps, each end closure flap having foldlines extending at angles of substantially 45 from the fold linehingedly connecting said end closure panel to said end wall panel, thefold lines extending from the intersection of the fold line hingedlyconnecting of adhering only to a similarly coated surface preapplied onthe outside surface of each of 1 said end closure flaps, the insidesurfaces of said side and end closure flaps being free of pressuresensitive adhesive and (c) means for hingedly connecting said end wallpanel and said end closure flaps to said side wall panel and sideclosure flaps. 4. A collapsible, stackable container including: (a) fourwall panels hingedly connected in tubular relation including:

(1) two opposed side Wall panels, and (2) two opposed end wall panels,and (b) an end closure assembly at each end of said four wall panelsincluding:

(3) pressure-sensitive adhesive of a type capable 1) two opposed sideclosure flaps hingedly connected to the end edges of said opposed sidewall panels,

(2) two opposed end closure flaps hingedly connected to the end edges ofsaid end wall panels, and hingedly connected to the side edges of eachof said opposed side closure flaps, each end closure flap having foldlines extending at angles of substantially 45 from the fold linehingedly connecting said end closure panel to said end Wall panel, thefold lines extending from the intersection of the fold line hingedlyconnecting said end closure flap to said end wall panel and fold lineshingedly connecting said end closure 5 of adhering only to a similarlycoated surface preapplied on the outside surface of each of said endclosure flaps, the inside surfaces of said closure flaps being free ofadhesive.

10 References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 681,322 8/1901Houghland 22937 915,579 3/1909 Ferres 229-37 916,544 3/1909 Ferres 229372,336,763 12/1943 Wilcox.

2,439,435 4/ 1948 Richardson et a1. 22937 2,521,989 9/1950 McPherson.2,874,891 2/1959 Kelsall 22937 20 2,926,777 3/ 1960 Maquire 22937 XFOREIGN PATENTS 621,597 4/ 1949 Great Britain.

25 GEORGE O. RALSTON, Primary Examiner.

FRANKLIN T. GARRETT, JOSEPH R. LECLAIR,

. Examiners.

1. A COLLAPSIBLE, STACKABLE CONTAINER INCLUDING: (A) FOUR WALL PANELSHINGEDLY CONNECTED IN TUBULAR RELATION INCLUDING: (1) TWO OPPOSED SIDEWALL PANELS, AND (2) TWO OPPOSED END WALL PANELS, AND (B) AN END CLOSUREASSEMBLY AT EACH END OF SAID FOUR WALL PANELS INCLUDING: (1) TWO OPPOSEDSIDE CLOSURE FLAPS HINGEDLY CONNECTED TO THE END EDGES OF SAID OPPOSEDSIDE WALL PANELS, (2) TWO OPPOSED END CLOSURE FLAPS HINGEDLY CONNECTEDTO THE END EDGES OF SAID END WALL PANELS, AND HINGEDLY CONNECTED TO THESIDE EDGES OF EACH OF SAID OPPOSED SIDE CLOSURE FLAPS, EACH END CLOSUREFLAP HAVING FOLD LINES EXTENDING AT ANGLES OF SUBSTANTIALLY 45* FROM THEFOLD LINE HINGEDLY CONNECTING SAID END CLOSURE PANEL TO SAID END WALLPANEL, THE FOLD LINES EXTENDING FROM THE INTERSECTION OF THE FOLD LINEHINGEDLY CONNECTING SAID END CLOSURE FLAP TO SAID END WALL PANEL ANDFOLD LINES HINGEDLY CONNECTING SAID END CLOSURE FLAPS TO SAID SIDECLOSURE FLAPS, THE FOLD LINES EXTENDING TO THE END EDGE OF SAID ENDCLOSURE FLAP, AND (3) PRESSURE-SENSITIVE ADHESIVE OF A TYPE CAPABLE OFADHERING ONLY TO A SIMILARLY COATED SURFACE PREAPPLIED ON THE OUTSIDESURFACE OF EACH OF SAID END CLOSURE FLAPS, THE INSIDE SURFACES OF SAIDSIDE AND END CLOSURE FLAPS BEING FREE OF PRESSURE SENSITIVE ADHESIVE.